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March 20, 2009

I was so excited to post another anthropolification piece. I went out and bought material and took notes but when it came down to it I couldn't find exactly what I was looking for. I didn't want to go half way and make something that sort of looked like an Anthropologie piece. So I decided to wait until I found what I was looking for.

But while I was looking, I found something else. And then it dawned on me. It doesn't have to be like Anthropologie to look good, although it can't hurt. This is what I found. See the last picture for the before photo. It's my new series,...Thrift Store Refashion!

I wanted to show readers that, if you learn to sew, you really CAN live frugaly. I can't tell you how many times I've seen something at a thrift store that was either WAY too big or WAY too homely or just plain old WAY too ugly. All it takes is a quick snip, snip and stitch up here and there and VOILA, you have a fantastic new garment for only $1.50!

This theory can also be used for department store sale racks too!

I bought this little (I mean BIG) frock for $2.99. When I first saw it I almost put it back. It was just HUGE! I wasn't sure if I could salvage it. But it had a summery retro quality that I just couldn't pass up.

What I did first was take in the sides. Then added a zipper to the right side. This changed the look of the sleeves. Instead of looking like a sleeveless dress, it became more of a capped sleeve which I thought was a good thing. Sometimes, when you're trying to revamp something you end up with happy accidents like these.

Then I made a yellow belt to match the yellow trim on the collar and sleeves. I added a brown square buckle and I looked totally ready for a summer picnic in 1969.

Also, if the winning blogger leaves a comment I will include the yellow hair handkerchief featured in the photos.

If you don't like to shop for used clothing that's fine too. But me, I'm a confessed dumpster diver. Well, okay maybe I wouldn't go that far. (Although I did get my daughter's crib AND my front porch Adirondack chairs on the side of the road, another story) But I LOVE going to thrift stores, especially the salvation army close to my home.

As I've mentioned numerous times, I am a shopaholic AND live on a budget. Sometimes, all I need is that shopping 'fix'. You know? It doesn't have to be anything big, just something to bring home, take out of a bag and put somewhere to admire. Which is why the thrift store is sooooo perfect for me! I've gotten some super cool finds not limited to, but including: a brand new patio table from target, a bubble jet spa, kids clothes GALORE, shoes, an antique birdcage, an Anthropologie-like tray for my jewelry, an armchair that I reupholstered AND a toddler bicycle.Now, not all thrift stores are created equal. I've found that, around here, the Salvation Army is the best. It's big and has enough clothes to fill a Macys. Although there is a goodwill store in Harrisburg that accepts all the reject furniture from Target. And on the weekends all their inventory is half off! I bought that patio table for only $10. It was brand new, IN THE BOX and still retailing for $200.

And I'd say finding a deal like that is BETTER than buying something new.

And hey, if there's no one out there who wants a new used dress I think I'd be more than happy to keep this little number for myself! If there are some of you on the fence, to ease your mind the dress has been washed and ironed before sewing.

When I see this dress, I think of the song 'Half Acre' by HEM. That might be because it's been playing the entire time I've been writing this post. But I think it's fitting.

I took these photos with my new AMAZING light boxes, 300 watts a piece. The difference between having them on and having them off is night and day. How did I ever live without these?! I haven't quite mastered how to position them but I hope to take a studio lighting class next month. So hopefully I won't be a complete amateur forever.

Oh and the flowers were a happy coincidence. Brian had brought them home after work two days ago. When I went upstairs to take these photos I quickly snatched the vase on the dining room table and used them for the photo. It was all just meant to be.The size of the dress is small. It has a 26 inch waist line and a 34 inch bust line but the dress was not tight around the waist. So I would say it could fit up to a 27" or 28". If the winner of the giveaway leaves a comment I will also include the striped hair scarf featured in the photos.

As usual, if you would like a chance to win this dress just link back to this post. If you have any questions see the "questions and answers" link to the right. If you use blogger just use the "create a link" link at the bottom of this post. If you don't use blogger, that's fine too. Just create a link on your page as you normally would and I will see it using Technorati.

Okay. Here is the before photo. Yeah, yeah, I know, I really uglied it up. Didn't wear makeup, didn't smile, didn't wear shoes, shot the flash at my face. I thought you might get a kick out of that. I wanted you to see that ANYTHING is salvagable in some way. There are better ones than others but if you're open minded you can always find a bargain.But really, look at the difference! It's like night and day!

There are finds like this everywhere. And best of all, it only took me about an hour to do! If you like the thrift store refashion posts please let me know. I think I like them and hope you do as well!

And if you'd like to see more refashioning NOW, I recommend Wardrobe Refashion's blog! Nikki vows to abstain from the purchase of "new" manufactured items of clothing, for the period of 2 / 4 / 6 months. Instead she refashions, renovates and recycles preloved items for herself with her own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium for the term of her contract.

you are clever!i'm an avid thrifter...and i'm always looking at items that are just too big and thinking that someone should do something ! (i plan on learning...and you are once, again, inspiring! )keep on doing what you do!

wow! i love this so much! i have been thrift shopping for a few years now and have always thought how much better i could do if i only knew how to refashion clothes to fit me. maybe today i will go to our local thrift shop and see what i can find!

I'm afraid I would not fit into this, but I wanted to tell you how much I like it. I'll now be scouring the local thrift shop for a smiliar item. I too would have put it back without much thought, but you really did an amazing job!

You are AMAZING!!!! So inspiring and just plain amazing!!! You make me want to go home and sew! I LOVED this post and with the economy so crappy I think you could help inspire a lot of people to be thrifty and creative!

What a great advertisement this is for learning to sew! I've been researching books on patternmaking so I cna learn—if you have any suggestions, they'd sure be welcome. I don't have anybody nearby whom I can ask to teach me, so I'm hoping I can pick it up from a book.

I won't enter this drawing because I look terrible in yellow, but I adore what you've done, and the fabric is terrific. I love seeing reconstructions—real clothes, that is. I checked out Clothing Reconstruction for Dummies from my local library and was really disappointed. I'm much more attracted to good-looking stuff with personality than I am with the Tinkerbell look.

I've attempted a few reburbished fashions myself, but they always end up looking worse than they did before I thrifted them. Hopefully I will win this summer dress and be able to wear it with thrifting pride!!

Oh and my vote is to do more refashion. I love it when you create from scratch but now that you also do this one, I would also love to see other refashions :-) Maybe something of that before dress and then turning it into a dress for the little girls. But that's just me. :-)

WHERE IS YOUR STORE??? I've only discovered you in the past few days, but seriously--with this many giveaways---I want to see what you sell!! And the site is always under construction! I love your stuff, but I would have to give it all away--no issue, except that when I create--except for my soaps--it's always for someone else! I'm a pillowcase and sheet shopper at the thrift stores--but my 2 1/2 year old limits more shopping-- WANT MY MOM TO LIVE CLOSER!!! love your stuff, can't wait to see more!

I wonder if you have time to read all of these comments - I wonder this because mine tend to be long. I can't help but write you these mini-novels because so many times - like this time - I read your blog and think "exactly"!

I do not sew, but aspire to sew. My parents (yes, both my mom and dad) sew (well they can and did); they used to make me all my clothes when I was in grad school (ok, the skirts and dresses that I wore daily - I had the "dressy tshirts" that matched the skirts). Yes, I was 22-28 years old and loved the 6-paneled skirts, A-line skirts, and frocks similar (but shorter) than the one shown here and greatly appreciated that they were made with love by my overworked, but empty-nested parents!

It all started when my parents and I copied a couple patterns for a few reasons. Like you, one reason was to get a better fit (although for me it was my waste to hip ratio not my bust) another was due to the cost of trendy fashions, and then my third reason was that I loved having matching scrunchies for every outfit (so Midwestern of me, eh?). : ) Anyway I blogged about all this earlier this month when I liked to your Boyer Cardi so I won't go on any longer, about this.

The comment I want to share today is that even if you don't sew (like me) but know how to mend or can use a needle and thread, it can be very easy to make minor modification to hand me downs or thrift store finds. I'm not so into the thrift store thing, but my husband and his family love it. I do however get a lot of great hand-me-downs from close friends that sometimes just don't quite suit my taste, are a little too worn in certain areas or have a stubborn stain. I've removed ribbons and bows or moved them or even added them to suit my taste; I love having a new item from an old friend. (I have an uncanny memory for who gave us each outfit - so much so that Baby asks me "who gave me this" every morning when she gets dressed). I once removed a sailor collar, pulled the trim off the sailor collar and then added the trim (piping?) back on to the dress (because there was matching piping around the arm holes and I felt that without the extra trim it looked a bit bare). It was so fun and I was so pleased with myself ...

So of course I'd love to see more posts like this - as you may know I love all your posts!

i saw this link on steel city knitter's blog and that was quite a revamp! I have to say I'm a larger girl and that dress would have looked hideious on a larger girl :) I tend to have the opposite problem from you, I find things I love but that are way too small.

YOU ARE MY NEW HERO!!!! what i want to know is how you made this amazing refashioned frock. you are the most amazing seamstress... i want to be you when i grow up. especially the size 26" waist!! can you make one with a 32" waist? i'm afraid it won't be as cute... darnit!

This is the first time I've ever tried a blog giveaway contest... but I love this dress - the colors, the cut. My mom always told me how valuable knowing how to sew is but I do not have skills anywhere near this level. Definitely an inspiration!

I too am addicted to thrift store shopping, I have so much stuff that I get just cause I like it and it is cheap. I have a wonderful thrift store within walking distance and it is the perfect thing to get out of the house with my girls and go for a walk without having to spend much. The dress turned out really cute!

Go Kathleen-this is great! I am a beginning sewer myself and find that "thrift revivals" (as I call them) are much easier and less expensive than using a pattern and starting from scratch. I've done a few myself...check them out here if you'd like: http://hotdiggityklr.blogspot.com/2009/01/thrift-store-revival.html

Ahh, I want this dress SO BAD! It would be perfect for one of our (many) summer excursions up to Lake Lure for picnics! And considering my new obssession with the '60s'/'70s, this came about at just the right time. . .

I love it! And I just have to ask: did you already have the shoes??? They are perfect! ;) Great job on the refashion. I don't have a blog to link to so I can't win it but I just had to tell you what a great job you did!!

Super cute! I'm amazed at what a little sewing can do. I'm now inspired to go check out the second hand stores more often. Maybe I'll find a hideous object ;o) and turn it into a cute one of a kind piece! Keep up these posts! They're a lot of fun!

I think you've really done it now. Seriously, since everyone has access to thrift stores, I believe that these posts may be your most popular yet. You see, many of us are afraid to try to completely construct an outfit from scratch, but taking something old (and cheap) and refashioning it into something that's current doesn't seem like such a stretch. Keep up the amazing work.

I hope this give away isn't over. I just noticed my post isn't listed, but I totally posted a link in my blog! And I definitely don't want to be left out. http://namabanana.blogspot.com/2009/03/domestic-imp.html

About Me

A blog by an artsy craftsy, penny pinching, party planning, playdating,
fashion finding, sci-fi loving, stay at home mother of three little
girls *and one little boy who always keeps her sewing machine plugged in and loves all
things charming.